The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) and Detroit-based news/talk radio station WJR-AM have recognized Barton Malow Assistant Controller Kristin Donnelly as one of its 2023 ‘Rising Stars’, a program that annually honors 10 emerging leaders in the metro Detroit area. Kristin spoke with on-air host Guy Gordon about her role at Barton Malow, her career journey, and all the other details that make her an up-and-comer in the construction industry.
Kristin joined Barton Malow in 2017 as a Cost Analyst and primarily worked on healthcare projects built under joint venture agreements. She also served as a Project Accounting Manager before her recent promotion to Assistant Controller. Her current role sees her working on major EV battery plant projects, including Ultium Cells Spring Hill (Tennessee), Ultium Cells Lansing (Michigan), and BlueOval SK Battery Park among other projects in the automotive industry.
Impact at Barton Malow
Beyond her work and leadership in the Finance department, Kristin is involved in a variety of Barton Malow initiatives. One of those is the New Hire Ambassador program, where she offers guidance and mentorship to help new team members thrive. She’s also a part of the Citizen Development Community, an internal data and automation initiative designed to uncover methods to work smarter and more productively.
Kristin was also among the first cohort of Barton Malow’s Lean University graduates. This program, consisting of 40 hours of knowledge-based education and hands-on simulations, makes each graduate a champion of Lean concepts in their respective projects as a means of streamlining efficiency, safety, and collaboration. Since graduating from the program, Kristin has participated in several Kaizen events with colleagues to brainstorm and develop process improvements that leave lasting impacts on the greater Barton Malow Enterprise.
In the Community
Outside of Barton Malow, Kristin is an active member of Detroit’s community of young professionals, with memberships in the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and the aforementioned DEC. She attended her first Young Leader Conference last fall and looks forward to this year’s event. Kristin also dedicates time to volunteering at local organizations like the Detroit Dog Rescue. Learn more about Kristin and listen to her Rising Stars interview on WJR’s “‘JR Morning with Guy Gordon” here.
